On 18 March 1992, white South Africans overwhelmingly backed a mandate for political reforms to end apartheid and create a power-sharing multi-racial government.  It was a high-stakes referendum coming on the back of three by-elections where the ruling National Party had lost to the right wing Conservative party.  In a speech after the polling victory, President FW de Klerk said: “Today we have closed the book on apartheid”. His communications adviser, David Steward speaks to Josephine McDermott. (Photo: President FW de Klerk with news of the referendum win. Credit: AP)

South Africa's referendum on apartheid

History as told by the people who were there.

History

Society & Culture

Thirty years on from the opening of the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France, we look at the moment the two halves of the tunnel were connected in 1990. Graham Fagg was the man who made the breakthrough, and the first person to cross by land between the two countries in 8,000 years. In 2010, he told Lucy Williamson about the festivities of that day. (Photo: The moment of breakthrough Graham Fagg greets Frenchman Philippe Cozette. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

The Channel Tunnel breakthrough

In February 2014, Ukraine’s ousted president, Viktor Yanukovych fled the country. His estate was abandoned by security guards, so for the first time ordinary people got to see inside Mezhyhirya, the extraordinarily extravagant home of the former president. Denys Tarakhkotelyk was one of those early visitors, and went on to take charge of the estate. He tells Gill Kearsley his remarkable story, and how the house became known as a ‘museum of corruption’. (Photo: People wander around President Viktor Yanukovych's Mezhyhirya estate. Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Ukraine's 'museum of corruption'

In 1936, Dale Carnegie wrote one of the world’s most popular self help books - How to Win Friends and Influence People. The idea was suggested by a book editor who had attended one of Dale’s public speaking courses in New York. The result was a mix of psychology, philosophy and good old-fashioned common sense. Dale offered advice like: Smile. Give praise. Be a good listener. And remember people’s names.  The book went on to become a best seller. Today, more than 30 million copies have been sold worldwide, and it has been translated into 36 languages. Even the title is part of popular culture. Dale’s daughter Donna Dale Carnegie tells Jane Wilkinson about the secret of its success. (Photo: How to Win Friends and Influence People in 1955. Credit: Frederic Hamilton/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

How to win friends and influence people

In 1961, the American psychologist Stanley Milgram began a series of controversial experiments on ‘obedience to authority’. His study aimed to show how ordinary people could be capable of committing evil acts, if ordered to do so.  He wanted to understand the psychology behind genocide, telling the BBC: “How is it possible that ordinary people who were courteous and decent in everyday life, can act callously, inhumanely, without any limitations of conscience?” During the tests, participants were led to believe that they were assisting an unrelated experiment, in which they had to administer electric shocks to another person. These fake shocks gradually increased to levels that would have been harmful had they been real volunteers. Vicky Farncombe looks back at the experiment, using BBC archive. This programme includes original recordings of the experiments which listeners may find disturbing. (Photo: Stanley Milgram beside the shock generator. Credit: BBC)

How the Milgram 'obedience' experiment shocked the world

It’s 70 years since General Alfredo Stroessner seized power in Paraguay in a military coup.  Stroessner remained in power for almost 35 years, before being toppled in 1989. More than 450 people were murdered under Stroessner's rule, with the fate of thousands more unknown. They are remembered as 'the disappeared' of Paraguay.  One man has dedicated his life to finding the victims of Stroessner's dictatorship, including the remains of his own father.  Rogelio Goiburu shares his story with Matt Pintus. (Photo: Rogelio Goiburu digging for the remains of Paraguay's 'disappeared'. Credit: Getty Images)

South Africa's referendum on apartheid

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